By Olivia Miwil - March 3, 2025 @ 5:00pm
KOTA KINABALU: There has been no changes to the Sabah government's policy that there should not be any exploitation of coral species in the state's waters.
Deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said Section 43 of the Fisheries Act 1985 (AP1985) states that collecting or possessing corals without permission.
"In Sabah, marine reserves are gazetted under the Sabah Parks Board. Nevertheless, the Sabah Department of Fisheries (DoF) can still enforce AP1985 by defining 'fish' to include corals, making collection without a permit or licence an offence," he told the New Straits Times.
He was commenting on the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's (MMEA) recent seizure of corals illegally harvested off Tanjung Tabu-Tabu waters in Semporna.
The corals were valued at RM13,000.
Jeffrey, who is state Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister, said the case was not handed over to DoF for legal action but is being probed by the MMEA.
In 2019, the issue of coral exports was raised by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) when images of wild corals being brought out from Semporna waters went viral.
Following the complaint, a series of meetings were held at the state cabinet that same year, which led to the banning of exporting live corals in 2022.
"In the past, the Fisheries Department had cases involving misuse of live fish export permits, where coral was mixed with the shipment. Some seizures were made at Tawau Airport.
"However, between 2024 and this year, there have been no cases of coral collection at sea or coral smuggling at exit points and airports."
The department, he said, has always enforced strict control over coral exports, particularly under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Act 2008.
Meanwhile, state Fisheries director Datuk Azhar Kassim said that the list of coral families prohibited under CITES for export are Antipatharia (Black coral), Helioporidae (Blue coral), Scleractinia (Stony cora, l)Tubiporidae (Organ-pipe coral), Milleporidae (Fire cora and l)Stylasteridae (Lace coral).
He said there are four registered companies authorised as importers and re-exporters of coral.
"The companies are EcoMarine Resources Sdn Bhd Borneo Marine Culture, Kinabalu Reef Resources Sdn Bhd and Star Corale.
"The volume of re-exported coral depends on the amount imported, with strict control and complete documentation."
Last year, the state Fisheries Department, in collaboration with the Semporna District Council, conducted briefings and enforcement operations to prevent the exploitation of endangered species, illegal coral trade, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Semporna, known as a diving paradise, is facing multiple threats from over-tourism, IUU, and coral bleaching among others.
However, various stakeholders including the local community have been taking restoration measures to maintain the equilibrium of the ecosystem in the district.
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